Community center in Aldan now honors John McBlain
ALDAN >> Outgoing Delaware County Council Chairman John McBlain was honored by Aldan officials for his longtime support of the borough by dedicating a renovated community center that will now bear his name.
McBlain, 53, a longtime borough resident, found the dedication an amusing notion when he helped cut the ribbon to officially open the building Saturday afternoon located in the 300 block of Shisler Avenue.
“Usually they do this sort of thing when you’re dead,” McBlain joked to a crowd of borough officials and community members. “I don’t know if that’s a message.”
The community center was supported by a $243,000 grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority under the state’s Department of Community and Economic Development and an $86,000 grant from the County Council’s greenway program. The money built on to what has long been known as the William Reinl Recreation Center to include a snack bar and outdoor pavilion to the current recreation building that houses council chambers. Site improvements were also made on the property which regulars houses community events like 4th of July festivities.
The iside of the building was renovated as well with council approval.
Borough officials said the scope of the project was scaled back from an initial plan to have two separate buildings, so the scope shifted to be applicable to the value of the grants.
McBlain, humbled by the dedication, said there were so many people for whom the building could have been named for. He pointed out the current borough council President Harry Short for a more than 30-year run as a member of council, and former councilman Joe McCollian and former mayor
Jim Hopely (both passed away, respectively, in 2018 and 2019) who McBlain said were “deserving people” who “did a lot more for the borough than I did.”
A lifelong resident of the borough, McBlain married his wife, Barbara, whom he met while they were working at Aldan Swim Club, and raised their three daughters in the “community of homes.” At 24 he was elected to his first term as a borough councilman and served four consecutive terms. His political aspirations extended to two terms on Delaware County Council, including one as Council Chairman, which he will wrap up by presiding over his final council session this week. He continues to support Aldan Borough by serving as its solicitor.
McBlain has been a committed member of the Aldan Boosters Civic Association and a coach for baseball and softball teams.
“John has spent many hours upon hours giving his life to making Aldan a beautiful place for his family, and so many other great families to live,” said Aldan Mayor Carmen Maniaci. “As the building gets a new facelift, it was only fitting to have the name of John P.
McBlain on it as he stood strong for all of the residents of Aldan. This building will give back to people as John as his whole life.”
“I always had a good time doing it,” McBlain said about his commitment to the borough. “I always said I did it because I got to hang out with the people on council who were my friends. I always had fun doing it. As I move on to see the borough grow bigger and better, this great building will start us off that way.”